Opening Day will be the first chance for fans to experience the fun of Erie SeaWolves Baseball in 2013. On Thursday, fans will have the opportunity to watch both home and visiting batting practice with gates opening early at 4 p.m. Tickets are available at the Jerry Uht Park box office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., by phone at (814) 456-1300 or online at SeaWolves.com.

Ticketing Upgrades

The SeaWolves have partnered with TicketReturn, a provider of box office and online ticketing services, to enhance the game day ticket purchasing experience. Through this partnership, fans will now be able to purchase tickets online and print tickets at home featuring barcodes used for ballpark access control. Additionally, fans will be able to go paperless and have tickets sent directly to their smart phones. Season ticket holders will gain the added benefit of using an online account to transfer their tickets to personal and professional contacts via e-mail.

Front Gates

The main entrance of Jerry Uht Park will feature a series of three nautical-themed banners featuring the SeaWolves' new primary logo set against a backdrop of Presque Isle Bay and Bicentennial Tower. The banners were designed by Studio Simon, the agency that designed the new SeaWolves brand identity.

Third Base Concourse

The third base concourse of the ballpark will now feature life-sized player cutouts of SeaWolves alumni in Major League Baseball. The area will also include a carnival-style cutout of Justin Verlander so fans can take a photo posing as the Tigers ace. Additional graphics will be added to this area of the ballpark over the next two seasons to enhance the fan experience.

Team Store

Fans will be able to choose from a new variety of novelties and apparel this season at the recently renovated Team Store. The shop now features walls painted in the team's new colors, a new counter top and display fixtures, and a new point-of-sale checkout.

Fun Zone Enhancements

The SeaWolves have added new games to the Fun Zone, located in the left field corner of Jerry Uht Park. New games include an inflatable speed pitch and a ring toss custom-made using souvenir mini-bats. The exterior fence of the Fun Zone has also been upgraded with over 900 square feet of custom windscreen featuring the new SeaWolves marks thanks to a generous donation from the Erie SeaWolves Booster Club.

PlayBall Magazine

Fans will be treated to five editions of the SeaWolves' PlayBall magazine, a FREE publication available to the first 1,000 fans per home game. A new publication will be issued each month (April-August) so fans can read up on the top Tigers prospects, the month's opponents and featured content. The complimentary copies of PlayBall will be available at a new kiosk located just inside the main entrance of Jerry Uht Park.

Fan Assistance Center

The SeaWolves have added a new, larger Fan Assistance Center, a red and white gazebo located just inside the stadium entrance.

Beer Portable

Professional Sports Catering (PSC), the concessionaire at Jerry Uht Park, has added a new draft beer portable directly behind home plate. The new portable unit doubles the number of draft beers (from two to four) at this location, which is the closest point-of-sale to home plate.

Concession Menu Items

Professional Sports Catering has added a number of new menu items available throughout the ballpark. Notable new items include Howlin' Jalapeno Burgers, Boneless Buffalo Wings, Philly Cheesesteak Nachos, and Utz Potato Chips. PSC has also added a Healthy Options menu including a Lite Chicken Salad Sandwich and a Fresh Salad of the Home Stand.

Kids Stampede

After a hiatus in 2012 due to construction on the Erie Insurance Arena, the ErieAutoCredit.com Kids Stampede returns with modifications in 2013. New access stairs have been added to the ballpark between section 117 and the SeaWolves bullpen, so kids will have the opportunity to race across the field during the 6thinning of SeaWolves home games.

New Uniforms

The SeaWolves will wear new uniform sets with jerseys and pants by Wilson Sporting Goods, official fitted caps by New Era, and on-field jackets by Rawlings. Everybody's favorite mascot, C. Wolf, also has a new outfit featuring the SeaWolves alternate red jersey, black pants and red stirrups.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.